News ReleasesRetroscreen Virology appoints David Norwood as Chairman
Retroscreen Virology Limited, Europe’s leading specialist virology contract research organisation (CRO), announces today that David Norwood has been appointed as Chairman and has acquired a significant shareholding in the Company.
Mr. Norwood, former chief executive of the stockbrokers Beeson Gregory and a former director of Evolution, is the founder of the London Stock Exchange listed company, IP Group plc, which specialises in the development of intellectual property based businesses. IP Group plc has a 32% shareholding in Retroscreen Virology.
Mr. Norwood departed the City in 2008 after a successful 16-year career to live in Lubbers Quarters, a remote island in the northern Bahamas. His appointment at Retroscreen Virology heralds Mr. Norwood’s return to his entrepreneurial roots, and to his long-standing commitment to assist British universities to generate value from their intellectual property.
Retroscreen Virology, founded by the eminent virologist, Professor John Oxford, is a spin-out from Queen Mary, University of London, one the UK's leading research-focused higher education institutions. Retroscreen is focussed on researching the next generation of antivirals and vaccines for a number of respiratory and enteric viral diseases. The company has recently relocated to a purpose-built laboratory and clinical facility at the Queen Mary BioEnterprise Centre in Whitechapel.
Kym Denny, Chief Executive Officer of Retroscreen, welcomed Mr. Norwood to the Board and said:
“David is a long standing advocate of the quality of UK university intellectual property and has a successful track-record of realising the potential of young technology businesses. We are delighted that he has chosen to join Retroscreen at such a pivotal time in its growth. The Company is well positioned to further expand its proven, proprietary model for the conduct of clinical virology studies, a model that enables our clients to significantly reduce the cost and time to market when developing the next generation of vaccines and anti-viral products.”
Mr. Norwood said:
“I am delighted to have been invited to join the board of Retroscreen as Chair. It has been my intention to return to the City for some time, once the right opportunity presented itself, both in a capital deployment and expertise capacity. Given the continuing threat of viral pandemics and epidemics, there is a pressing need to bring treatments and vaccines to market as quickly and safely as possible. I believe that Retroscreen Virology, with its clinical trial challenge model, is ideally placed to assist in this global effort, and to serve as a unique vehicle that brings together the scientific, financial and commercial expertise to further our understanding of viral infections and the best ways of treating and preventing them. I look forward to working with Kym and Professor Oxford to develop the Company’s platform around the new, purpose built facility in Whitechapel.”
For further information contact:
Retroscreen Virology Limited, Kym Denny
Mr. Norwood, former chief executive of the stockbrokers Beeson Gregory and a former director of Evolution, is the founder of the London Stock Exchange listed company, IP Group plc, which specialises in the development of intellectual property based businesses. IP Group plc has a 32% shareholding in Retroscreen Virology.
Mr. Norwood departed the City in 2008 after a successful 16-year career to live in Lubbers Quarters, a remote island in the northern Bahamas. His appointment at Retroscreen Virology heralds Mr. Norwood’s return to his entrepreneurial roots, and to his long-standing commitment to assist British universities to generate value from their intellectual property.
Retroscreen Virology, founded by the eminent virologist, Professor John Oxford, is a spin-out from Queen Mary, University of London, one the UK's leading research-focused higher education institutions. Retroscreen is focussed on researching the next generation of antivirals and vaccines for a number of respiratory and enteric viral diseases. The company has recently relocated to a purpose-built laboratory and clinical facility at the Queen Mary BioEnterprise Centre in Whitechapel.
Kym Denny, Chief Executive Officer of Retroscreen, welcomed Mr. Norwood to the Board and said:
“David is a long standing advocate of the quality of UK university intellectual property and has a successful track-record of realising the potential of young technology businesses. We are delighted that he has chosen to join Retroscreen at such a pivotal time in its growth. The Company is well positioned to further expand its proven, proprietary model for the conduct of clinical virology studies, a model that enables our clients to significantly reduce the cost and time to market when developing the next generation of vaccines and anti-viral products.”
Mr. Norwood said:
“I am delighted to have been invited to join the board of Retroscreen as Chair. It has been my intention to return to the City for some time, once the right opportunity presented itself, both in a capital deployment and expertise capacity. Given the continuing threat of viral pandemics and epidemics, there is a pressing need to bring treatments and vaccines to market as quickly and safely as possible. I believe that Retroscreen Virology, with its clinical trial challenge model, is ideally placed to assist in this global effort, and to serve as a unique vehicle that brings together the scientific, financial and commercial expertise to further our understanding of viral infections and the best ways of treating and preventing them. I look forward to working with Kym and Professor Oxford to develop the Company’s platform around the new, purpose built facility in Whitechapel.”
For further information contact:
Retroscreen Virology Limited, Kym Denny